Karnal Bunt. Karnal Bunt, or partial bunt, is a fungal disease of wheat, durum wheat and triticale. The disease is caused by spores. Typically, only a portion of the kernel is affected; this is why the disease is sometimes called partial bunt. Damage is twofold; 1.) infested plants produce less grain, 2.) the quality of the grain itself is lessened. Although the overall crop losses caused by Karnal Bunt might not be severe, the disease has quarantine significance and therefore could affect US grain exports. A National survey plan developed by APHIS is the guideline which each wheat growing state follows. In 1998, 67 elevator facilities were sampled one time during the Arkansas wheat harvest. The Oklahoma State University lab facility in Stillwater was chosen as the regional KB testing site. In addition to these grain samples, 10 certified wheat seed samples were also compiled by variety and samples submitted. All grain and seed samples were negative for the Karnal Bunt spore.

The following is a breakdown of counties where elevators were sampled: